Into The Mirror

Chapter 5: something new

It took me several torturous hours that day in order for the tears to stop racing down my cheeks. I left my leather purse on top of the desk in my bedroom, along with my diary; which contained an entry explaining everything I had been through those past few days with my friends' mysterious disappearances, Alexandria being murdered and meeting Ashley (who now whenever I'm with her I'm forced to call her "Ash for short" but I probably won't.)

It had been a week since my reading and I had bumped into Ashley the day before in the town centre. She dressed in 80's inspired clothes this time; her style ever-changing like the winds. Ashley wanted to see me again so we agreed on speaking the next day as I had to hurry. I found comfort in knowing that no matter how odd she seemed, at least she understood me and the entire situation - no questions asked. 

I had a quick shower in the downstairs bathroom; I didn't want to use the bathroom upstairs in fear of Mary coming back and murdering or kidnapping me, just as she had done to my friends. Thereafter, I moved upstairs to my wardrobe, quickly grabbing some jeans, a plain white t-shirt and a red hoodie with old trainers, got changed into them, then told my parents I was going to go meet Ashley, which of course not caring much about where I was as long as they felt I was safe, they quickly let me go.

I grabbed my phone out of the charger and dialed Ashley's number which had mysteriously appeared on my phone on the day that I went to ask her for my reading. It took about 3 or 4 rings for her to pick up, then she told me to meet her at Starbucks. She also told me that she would quickly be there. Me knowing her "super speed" I was very much aware that when she said anything regarding speed, she meant it.

I walked at a normal pace in the pouring rain, which to be honest felt kind of good as I felt like I was washing away all my problems. I knew it wasn't really the truth but it's nice to tell yourself comforting little white lies sometimes.  As I approached the café, I saw a small black haired figure moving towards me with a coffee in her hands.

It took me a few moments to recognize Ashley. She was wearing a flowery long sleeved top and skinny jeans with grey trainers to match her purse (so completely different to the black cloak and purple bandanna she was wearing when I first met her). Her hair flowed down past her shoulders and all l the way half way down to her elbows. She looked at me with a friendly smile spread across her face, almost as if we had known each other for years and what I had been through a few days ago had been just a nightmare which I had now been thankfully woken up from as she handed me a hot chocolate, then we walked back inside the store to sit down.

"How are you now? Feeling better?" she asked with so much kindness she almost sounded like my grandmother. 

"Better I guess, obviously still upset but slowly feeling a little bit better from what happened."

I looked up as I felt tears attempting to escape my eyes and quickly blinked to try to get rid of them, but I guess I wasn't fast enough as Ashley grabbed and pulled my head down so I was forced to look her straight in the eyes and was incapable to look away.

"Look I know you're upset but you need to stop. I was able to communicate with Mary last night after summoning her in a relatively "safe" environment. She said that she didn't intend to come across as she had that night. Furthermore, she wanted to apologize to you deeply, but in order for that to happen, you are going to have to find her."  I quickly moved in a motion away from her grasping hand and she let go of me, then I replied.

"Okay and how the fuck am I supposed to find Mary again? You think I don't realize that there's a risk of her trying to kill me and/or my family? On the other hand, if it means I need to sacrifice my own life in order to save two of my friends then I will."

She went silent and stared at me for a few seconds. 

"Say something, anything...Ashley!" I continued, attempting to get at least some form of response. And I did.

"I told you to call me Ash for short." she said as her fists started to clench, her voice remaining eerily calm. I was surprised at her actions and moved back in my chair, scared of getting hit by her. Then she continued "The place can be close to some but far for others, you may gain some but lose some others. And if you try to run away from her you will find, your past and present will get left behind."

I stared at her; a scared and confused expression swept across my face as I tried to make sense of the words that had just left her mouth.

"So you're telling me that if I'm not careful I can lose my friends and family or even die myself and on top of that, all of my hard work will have been for nothing?"

"No what I'm telling you is that there is a high likelihood that you may either lose someone very close to you or even risk your soul being dragged into her world forever, and believe me when I say it's worst than anything you can imagine."

I didn't want to hear anymore. I quickly raised from my seat and tried to put an end to our conversation as quickly as I possibly could.

"Thank you very much for everything, Ashley, I do truly appreciate it. However, I need to leave this place in order to try to make sense of this entire conversation we've just had."

"I can join you if you'd prefer to have some company?" Ashley asked me with some hope that I would invite her into my home whilst I was in my most vulnerable state.

"Alone." I replied sharply and rapidly moved out into the rain, which had now grown stronger. I held my purse in my hand and swiftly placed my phone in my pocket to prevent it from getting water-damaged, then carried on heading towards my house.